There are actually a whole bunch of different options depending on the manufacturer and model including stands that do portrait and monitors that accept HDMI and display port.
Check out this website for a description of some of the many options. Its kind of crazy.
http://www.swiftworld.net/2012/04/14/budget-korean-27-ips-monitor-information-and-comparison-of-the-different-brands-and-models/

When I wrote about TN LCD panels 5 years ago, I considered them acceptable, despite their overall mediocrity, mostly due to the massive price difference. Unfortunately, the vast majority of LCDs on the market now are TN. You can opt to pay a little bit more for one of the few models with *VA ...